Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Flint Mom Demands Justice After Sons Die Because Firefighters Lied About Looking For Survivors In House Fire

Flint Mom Demands Justice After Sons Die Because Firefighters Lied About Looking For Survivors In House Fire
WNEM; Crystal Cooper/Facebook

Crystal Cooper filed a civil suit after discovering two White firefighters lied about checking the second floor of the burning house where the two boys, aged 9 and 12, were found.

12-year-old Zyaire and 9-year-old Lamar Mitchell died due to smoke inhalation after their family's home in Flint, Michigan caught fire in May.

The boys might have been saved if the first pair of firefighters to search the house had thoroughly checked the second floor properly, but they allegedly neglected to do so.


Firefighters Sergeant Daniel Sniegocki and Michael Zlotek were the first to search the second floor of the home when firefighters arrived on scene. They reported an all-clear despite the boys being in their room—one was even still in his bed.

When a second pair of firefighters entered the room hoping to remove an air conditioning unit to vent the smoke, they discovered the two boys still alive and immediately rushed them out of the house.

Unfortunately, both boys died within days from injuries sustained during the fire.

According to Flint Fire Department Chief Raymond Barton, Sniegocki and Zlotek reported to him they had properly cleared the room where the boys were found, but a later investigation determined their statement to be a lie.

While Barton initially recommended both Sniegocki and Zlotek be fired, Sniegocki resigned and Zlotek was initially suspended and has since been reinstated and undergone additional training.

Crystal Cooper, the boys' mother, hired attorneys Robert Kenner Jr. and Todd Flood and will be moving forward with a civil suit against the city.

Flood said there is reason to believe one or both of the boys could have survived if they were found during the initial search and not 6 minutes later.

"Every doctor that I have spoken with ... says a minute can mean the difference between life and death with smoke inhalation."

You can see coverage of the family's news conference here:

WATCH LIVE: Attorney holding press conference on deadly Flint fireyoutu.be

Social media users were highly critical of the whole situation.






Flint City Council members have since voted to undertake an independent investigation into the incident and were very critical of how everything was handled.

Flint City Councilwoman Tonya Burns said:

"We have two firefighters who falsified documents."

Of the independent investigation, she said:

"It is now at Prosecutor Leyton's office with Assistant Prosecutor Hanson so that we know that the ball is still moving."

Michigan State Police also launched an investigation into the incident.

Deputy Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney John Potbury told The Daily Beast:

"Because it was a City of Flint Fire Department matter, we felt it appropriate that the state police investigate."

Cooper said while it won't bring her children back to her, justice is a start.

"Nothing’s going to make me feel better. But at least getting justice for my children can be a start."

More from Trending

Donald Trump
Mehmet Eser/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

Trump Demands 'Boss Of AT&T' Fix Equipment After Failed Conference Call In Bizarre Meltdown

When most of us have technical difficulties, we contact tech support or customer service.

But if you're President of the United States, just ranting on social media—then having your White House Press Secretary post a screenshot of your post on a social media platform people actually use—is apparently the answer.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Lauren Boebert speaking to Alex Stein
Prime Time with Alex Stein/Blaze Media

Lauren Boebert Casts Doubt On Moon Landing During Wild Interview With Conspiracy Theorist

Colorado Republican Representative Lauren Boebert was criticized after she seemingly agreed with the conspiracy theory that the moon landing was faked in a wide-ranging interview with conservative conspiracy theorist Alex Stein.

The segment began with the duo casting doubt on nuclear weapons—Boebert even joked about needing "tin foil"—and moved into weirder territory when Stein praised Boebert for "vibing" with him on the topic of the moon landing. Conspiracy theorists have long alleged the moon landing was fabricated by NASA in what they claim was an elaborate hoax.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rosie O'Donnell; Oprah Winfrey
Simon Ackerman/Getty Images; Ernesto Ruscio/GC Images

Rosie O'Donnell Calls Out Oprah For Attending Jeff Bezos' Wedding In Scathing Poem

Among the various celebrity hangers-on who attended Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's Venice wedding, the one that seemed to generate the most controversy was Oprah Winfrey.

After all, a woman known for her progressive politics whose entire ethos is about teaching people how to be their best selves, attending the wedding of man who directly funded a fascist regime dismantling our country before our eyes doesn't exactly add up.

Keep ReadingShow less
Lisa Murkowski
Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

Lisa Murkowski Slammed After Criticizing Massive Budget Bill She Just Voted For

Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski was slammed after she claimed that President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill is "not there yet" despite casting the deciding vote to narrowly pass it before sending it back to the House.

In a marathon voting session, the Senate narrowly passed the legislation in a 51-50 vote, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote after three Republicans joined all Democrats in opposition.

Keep ReadingShow less
Woman listening to her boyfriend play guitar
Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

Things People Initially Found Attractive About Their Partner That Now Annoy Them

Being in a relationship can be wonderful, but it's not without its ups and downs.

In order for it to work, we have to allow it to grow and change over time rather than being locked forever into what it was when we first started dating our person.

Keep ReadingShow less